TNAG-0781-FCO40-985-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1978 — Page 229

EVEN MORE COMPETATIVE RATES, IS A DISCRIMINATORY ONE AND MUST BE STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED.

IF PARTICIPATION IS DENIED OTHERS, THE AUSTRALIAN ARGUMENT THAT THE PACKAGE IS AIMED AT BENEFITTING THE CONSUMER

IS DEMOLISHED. SINGAPORE IS JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED

AND IT HAS ALREADY MADE THIS KNOWN DIRECTLY OR THROUGH ASEAN TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS VISITING REPRESENTATIVES. IS NEITHER PRODUCTIVE NOR RIGHT TO ADOPT A DEFEATIST ATTITUDE AS LONG AS THERE ARE PROPER CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH TO FIGHT THIS UNJUST MOVE. AN EVEN LESS USEFUL THING TO DO IS TO STRIKE NOTES OF PESSIMISM ABOUT SINGAPORE'S

TOURISM PROSPECTS.....

SO LONG AS SINGAPORE CONTINUES TO BE A PLEASANT PLACE TO SHOP, STOP OVER, FOR CONVENTIONS, DO BUSINESS OR SPEND

A HOLIDAY, THE PROPOSED DIRECT FLIGHTS SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE - THAT THEY ARE AN ACT OF PROTECTIONISM OF THE WORST KIND BUT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD SPUR SINGAPORE TOWARDS

OPENING NEW MARKETS.''

HENNINGS

FILES

MAED

[COPIES SENT TO CAD/DOT]

SEAD

SWPD

SAD

HK -& GD

MR. BUTLER

MISS BROWN

MR.CORTAZZI

MR.MURRAY

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